Means for suspending wall board



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ATTORNEY.

H. R. SHANKS MEANS FOR SUSPENDING WALL BOARD Filed July 1, 1929 June 10,1930.

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INVENTOR Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES HENRY R. SHANKS,

01 DALLAS, TEXAS I MEAivs Eon SUSPENDING WALL BOARD Application'filed m1,

This invention has for its object to provide a new and improved meansfor suspending wall board, preparatory to depositing plaster thereon inthe construction of plastic '5 walls. r

The present invention has relation to ap plicantscopending applicationfiled April 13, 1929, Serial No. 354,7 98, for Plaster construction, anda similar application filed April 18, 1929, Serial No. 356,229, formeans for hanging wall board. a

In this present invention a new and improved nail or fastening elementis provided for supporting the wall board in spaced rela- 5 tion to thestudding wherein the nail is driven. There is also provided means on thenail whereby a cushion is formed for the purpose of enabling the wallboard to move slightly in taking care of any expansion, contraction orshrinkage which causes the plaster to crack.

The invention will be better and more clearly understood from a perusalof the fol lowing detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings formingpart of this specification and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary detail view in side elevation of a plasterwall construction and embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical detail sectional view taken along line 22 ofFigure 3,

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view of a plaster wallconstruction and illustrating an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the preferred form of nail, coveringand resilient P Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of the nail shown inFigure 4,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the nail, coveringand plug,

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are views similar to Figures 1, 2 and 3 andillustrating a further modification of the means for attaching and 45suspending the wall board,

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the final modified form of cover for thenail, the cover being opened out.

, Figure 11 is a side view of the cover opened 50 out, the broken linesindicating its closed po- 1529. Serial No. ,375,1s7

sition, with the plug and nail shown also in broken lines,

Figure 12 is a side view of the nail, plug and cover, the cover closedover the nail ready for application, and

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view through the cover and plug shownin Fig ure 12.

Having a more detailed reference to the drawings, 1 denotes wall boardsor panels of conventional size, held in position by a channeled webbing2 ormetallic plate which form the subject matter of one of applicantsapplications previously referred to. The channel 3 separates the boards1, the boards being vplaced behind the flanges or wings 4 and spacedfrom the studding 5 as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The particular object of the present invention resides in the fasteningelement or nail. This may bean ordinary wire nail 6 or any nail having ahead such as is indicated at 7.

The nail 6 isembe'dded in a block of rubber 8, the block of rubberhaving a recess 9 open at the top. The preferred form of construction isthat the nail be embedded in the rubber with the head of the nailabutting the bottom'of the recess. However, if preferred the rubberplugs or blocks may be channeled to receive the shank of the nail or thenail may be driven through the rubber when the two parts are connectedto the studding.

The rubber plug or block is provided with a metallic cover 10 of oblongshape, including integrally formed wings 11. These wings as clearlyshown in Figure 4 are bent at right angles to the cover and grip thesides of the block, holding the cover over the recess 9.

The block extends about midway of the shank of the nail and when inoperative position abuts the studding 5.

The objectof the rubber block or plug in combination with the nail is toprovide a cushion to obviate cracking of the plaster 12 in case ofshrinkage, contraction or expansion of the woodwork. The wall boardbeing spaced apart at 14 from the studding, is suspended or supportedentirely upon the nail and plug. The recess being closed by the cover 10no plaster can touch the nail, hence the plug or block 8 forms asubstantial and effective cushion or resilient medium to relieve anysagging or the like which cause cracking of the plaster.

In Figure 6 is illustrated a modified form of covering and in thisarrangement the covering consists of an oblong strip of metal 16, theend portions 17 being bent at right angles to the strip so as to tightlygrip the block or plug 8.

A further modification of the nut is shown in Figures 10 to 13inclusive. In this form a hollow steel ball consisting of an upperportion 20 and a lower portion 21 is provided. The upper and lowerportions include an annular rim 22, the portions being separated up tothe point A, which forms in effect a hinge. The lower portion has anopening B for passage of the nail 6. Beneath the ball and surroundingthe nail is a rubber plug or block 8. Figures 12 and 13 illustrate theassembled parts and position of the nail head 7 when applying the latterto hang and suspend the boards.

In the operation of attaching the channeled webbing and nail and blockin position to sup port the wall board, the nail is driven into thestudding .5 by striking the covers 10 or 16 with a hammer or similartool until the lower end of the plug abuts the studding. hen the coveris thus struck it will be de pressed to the broken-line position 18, dueto the contraction of the rubber. The cover, however, will come incontact with the head of the nail and drive the latter home. After thefinal blow of the hammer the cover will rebound to the full-lineposition which brings it flat upon the metallic webbingQ. The plasteringmay then be placed to complete the wall.

The same procedure is carried out in attaching the form shown in Figure6, except that the cover 16 is in proper position when flush with thesurface of the webbing.

IVith reference to the last modification, Figures 8 to 13 inclusive, theupper portion 20 of the ball is bent over the nail head at the hinge Ato the position shown in Figures 12 and 13 and the nail driven home. Thehammer or tool upon striking the top portion 20 will depress the latter,and force the nail into the woodwork. The top portion 20 being of springsteel will rebound at successive strokes of the two, thus leaving thenail head 7 spaced from the inside surface of the ball. This preventsany plaster from touching the nail head and permits the latter to movefreely to relieve expansion, contraction or shrinkage of the woodwork.The rubber plug 8 likewise forms a cushion to prevent cracking of theplaster.

lVhat is claimed as new is:

1. Means for supporting wall board in constructing plastic walls,comprising an elongated pointed element with an enlarged upper end; arubber plug on the element, means for covering the enlarged end of theelement to prevent contact with plaster, and means for attaching thecovering means to the element.

2. In combination, means for suspending and supporting wall board andspacing same from the woodwork in constructing plastic walls, comprisinga nail, a plug of resilient material on the nail body and providing acushion, a covering for the upper end of the nail, said coveringpermitting the upper end of the nail to be normally free from contactwith the covering to allow the upper end of the nail to move freely inthe covering.

3. Means for supporting wall board as claimed in claim 2, said coveringincluding means for insertion of the nail, the covering when struck by atool springing back to normal position.

4. Means for supporting wall board in construeting plastic walls,comprising a nail, a rubber plug and a metallic hollow ball; said ballenclosing the head of the nail, the plug engaging the body of the nail;the head of the nail spaced from the inner walls of the ball; the ballpreventing contact of plaster with vthe head of the nail, therebypreventing crackingof the plaster.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY R. SHANKS.

